Glasses selling system, lens company terminal, frame company terminal, glasses selling method, and glasses selling program

ABSTRACT

A selling server stores prescription data of a customer transmitted from an optometrist terminal of an optometrist who performs optometry for a glasses prescription through a communication line in association with customer identification information, transmits image data of a frame candidate group of glasses to a customer terminal, transmits image data of a lens candidate group of the glasses to the customer terminal, receives information relating to a frame and a lens purchased by the customer and determined on the basis of a combined image of a frame image selected by the customer, a lens image selected by the customer, and a face image of the customer, and transmits prescription data of the customer to a lens company terminal of a lens company which processes the lens purchased by the customer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Divisional Application of U.S. Ser. No. 14/793,028, filed Jul.7, 2015 which is a Divisional Application of U.S. Ser. No. 13/613,562,filed Sep. 13, 2012 which is a Continuation Application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2011/056073, filed Mar. 15, 2011, which claimspriority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-059685 filed on Mar.16, 2010. The contents of the aforementioned applications areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique for selling glasses usingnetwork communication.

Description of Related Art

In general, when purchasing glasses, first, a purchaser visits a glassesshop, and visual acuity measurement or optometry, such as an inter-pupildistance, is performed in an ophthalmic office or the like which isestablished at the glasses shop. The purchaser selects a glasses framebased on the purchaser's preference from a plurality of glasses framesprepared at a glasses shop. The purchaser selects the type of lens, suchas the material or the refractive index of the lens, in accordance withthe optometry result. The glasses shop places an order for the selectedlens with a lens company. The lens company manufactures and processesthe lens on the basis of design data of the lens based on the optometryresult, and distributes the processed lens to the glasses shop whichplaces the order. The glasses shop processes the lens in conformity withthe frame, and inserts the lens into the frame to assemble the glasses.The purchaser visits the glasses shop again and receives the assembledglasses.

According to the technique described in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication, First Publication No. 2002-162607, the purchaser of theglasses inputs the optometry result to a terminal on the basis of aprescription according to diagnosis of an ophthalmologist or aprescription, such as the inter-pupil distance or the like measured atan automated shop or the like. The terminal transmits the inputoptometry result to a server which is connected to the terminal throughInternet. On the server side, information is transmitted and receivedbetween a plurality of servers, such as a frame supplier server and alens supplier server, thereby distributing the processed glasses to thepurchaser.

However, in the technique described in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication, First Publication No. 2002-162607, the purchaser of theglasses should input the optometry result to the terminal on the basisof a prescription according to diagnosis of the ophthalmologist or aprescription, such as the inter-pupil distance or the like measured atan automated shop or the like. The optometry result includes a pluralityof pieces of technical information, and it is often difficult for ageneral purchaser to understand the meaning of each item of theprescription. For this reason, a case where it may be difficult for thepurchaser to discriminate information required for purchasing theglasses and to input the information to the terminal is considered. Acase where the purchaser reads information necessary for purchasingglasses from a prescription given by an ophthalmologist, an automatedshop, or the like and inputs information to the terminal, sufficientinformation for glasses manufacturing and processing may not betransmitted to the server due to erroneous input of data or insufficientinput of necessary information is also considered. Accordingly, a casewhere appropriate glasses may not be manufactured and processed, and thepurchaser does not obtain sufficient visual acuity with the glassespurchased in this way or feels a sense of discomfort at the time ofwearing is considered. Even when glasses are sold through a network, itis desirable to sell more appropriate glasses more simply to thepurchaser in accordance with the optometry result of the purchaser.

A purpose of some aspects of the present invention is to provide aglasses selling system, a lens company terminal, a frame companyterminal, a glasses selling method, and a glasses selling programcapable of simply selling appropriate glasses for a purchaser whenselling glasses using network communication.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the invention provides a glasses selling systemincluding a selling server which is connected to a customer terminal ofa customer who purchases glasses through a communication line. Theselling server is connected to an optometrist terminal of an optometristwho performs optometry for a glasses prescription through thecommunication line. The selling server includes a prescription datastorage unit which stores prescription data of the customer transmittedfrom the optometrist terminal in association with customeridentification information for identifying the customer, a frame imagetransmission unit which transmits image data of a frame candidate groupof the glasses to the customer terminal, a lens image transmission unitwhich transmits image data of a lens candidate group of the glasses tothe customer terminal, a purchase request receiving unit which receivesinformation relating to a frame and a lens purchased by the customer anddetermined on the basis of a combined image of a frame image selected bythe customer, a lens image selected by the customer, and a face image ofthe customer, and a prescription data transmission unit which transmitsthe prescription data of the customer to a lens company terminal of alens company manufacturing the lens purchased by the customer.

A second aspect of the invention provides a lens company terminal whichis connected to a selling server used in a glasses selling system forselling glasses to a customer through a communication line. The sellingserver is connected to an optometrist terminal of an optometrist whoperforms optometry for a glasses prescription through the communicationline. The selling server includes a prescription data storage unit whichstores prescription data of the customer transmitted from theoptometrist terminal in association with customer identificationinformation for identifying the customer, a purchase request receivingunit which receives information relating to a lens purchased by thecustomer determined on the basis of a combined image of a frame imageselected by the customer, a lens image selected by the customer, and aface image of the customer, and a prescription data transmission unitwhich transmits the prescription data of the customer and informationrelating to the lens purchased by the customer to a lens companyterminal. The lens company terminal includes a prescription datareceiving unit which receives the prescription data of the customer andinformation relating to the lens purchased by the customer transmittedfrom the selling server.

A third aspect of the invention provides a frame company terminal whichis connected to a selling server used in a glasses selling system forselling glasses to a customer through a communication line. The sellingserver is connected to an optometrist terminal of an optometrist whoperforms optometry for a glasses prescription through the communicationline. The selling server includes a prescription data storage unit whichstores prescription data of the customer transmitted from theoptometrist terminal in association with customer identificationinformation for identifying the customer, a purchase request receivingunit which receives information relating to a lens purchased by thecustomer determined on the basis of a combined image of a frame imageselected by the customer, a lens image selected by the customer, and aface image of the customer, and a frame information transmission unitwhich transmits information relating to a frame purchased by thecustomer to a frame company terminal. The frame company terminalincludes a frame information receiving unit which receives theinformation relating to the frame purchased by the customer transmittedfrom the selling server.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a glasses selling methodincluding a prescription data storage step of storing prescription dataof a customer transmitted from an optometrist terminal of an optometristwho performs optometry for a glasses prescription in association withcustomer identification information for identifying the customer, aframe image transmission step of transmitting image data of a framecandidate group of glasses to a customer terminal of the customer, alens image transmission step of transmitting image data of a lenscandidate group of the glasses to the customer terminal, a purchaserequest receiving step of receiving information relating to a frame anda lens purchased by the customer and determined on the basis of acombined image of a frame image selected by the customer, a lens imageselected by the customer, and a face image of the customer, and aprescription data transmission step of transmitting prescription data ofthe customer to a lens company terminal of a lens company manufacturingthe lens purchased by the customer.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a glasses selling program whichcauses a computer to execute a prescription data storage step of storingprescription data of a customer transmitted from an optometrist terminalof an optometrist who performs optometry for a glasses prescription inassociation with customer identification information for identifying thecustomer, a frame image transmission step of transmitting image data ofa frame candidate group of glasses to a customer terminal of thecustomer, a lens image transmission step of transmitting image data of alens candidate group of the glasses to the customer terminal, a purchaserequest receiving step of receiving information relating to a frame anda lens purchased by the customer and determined on the basis of acombined image of a frame image selected by the customer, a lens imageselected by the customer, and a face image of the customer, and aprescription data transmission step of transmitting prescription data ofthe customer to a lens company terminal of a lens company manufacturingthe lens purchased by the customer.

According to the aspects of the invention, it becomes possible toprovide a glasses selling system, a lens company terminal, a framecompany terminal, a glasses selling method, and a glasses sellingprogram capable of simply selling appropriate glasses for a purchaserwhen selling glasses using network communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a glassesselling system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data example which is stored in aprescription data storage unit according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a face shape which iscalculated in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a combined image which isgenerated in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a combined image which isgenerated in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of a glassesselling system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a frame material which isstored in a frame information storage unit according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a frame shape which is storedin a frame information storage unit according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a price selection screen whichis displayed on a customer terminal according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a face shape selection screenwhich is displayed on a customer terminal according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a glasses sellingsystem 1 of this embodiment. The glasses selling system 1 includescomputer devices of a customer terminal 100, an optometrist terminal200, a lens company terminal 300, a frame company terminal 400, anassembly company terminal 500, a contact lens company terminal 600, anda selling server 700, and these computers are connected together througha communication line. Although in this embodiment, a case where eachcomputer device has a single computer device has been described, eachcomputer device may have a plurality of computer devices. For example,the glasses selling system 1 may include a plurality of customerterminals 100 which are used by a plurality of customers, a plurality ofoptometrist terminals 200 which are used by a plurality of optometrists,or the like.

The customer terminal 100 is a computer device of a customer (user) whopurchases glasses using the glasses selling system 1. As the customerterminal 100, specifically, a PC (Personal Computer), a PDA (PersonalDigital Assistant), a mobile phone terminal, or the like may be applied.In this embodiment, a case where a PC is applied as the customerterminal 100 will be described. The customer terminal 100 includes aninput unit, such as a keyboard or buttons, which receives informationinput from the customer, a display unit, such as a display, whichdisplays input information or information transmitted from the sellingserver 700 or the like, and the like. The customer terminal 100 has afunction of an Internet browser which performs Internet communication onthe basis of HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or the like. Thecustomer terminal 100 includes an imaging unit 110. The imaging unit 110is a camera which captures a face image or the like of the customer.While the imaging unit 110 may be a camera which captures a still image,in this embodiment, a case where the imaging unit 110 is a camera (a webcamera) which captures a motion image will be described. The customerterminal 100 is operated by the customer, and the imaging unit 110 isdirected so as to image the face of the customer, such that the imagingunit 110 captures the face image of the customer. The customer terminal100 transmits information input to the input unit, image data of theface image captured by the imaging unit 110, or the like to the sellingserver 700 through the communication line.

The optometrist terminal 200 is the computer device of the optometristwho performs optometry for a glasses prescription. As the optometristterminal 200, a similar PC as the customer terminal 100, or the like maybe applied. The optometrist is, for example, an ophthalmologist, a clerkwho performs optometry of the customer at a glasses shop, or the like.During optometry, for example, a preliminary test, such as a medicalinterview, a visual acuity test, a cover test, or an effect test, anobjected test, such as a corneal curvature test or a refraction test, asubjective test, a wearing test using a test frame, and the like areperformed. Prescription data including an inter-pupil distance, myopicpower, hyperopic power, astigmatic power, an astigmatic axis angle,prism power, and the like are input to the optometrist terminal 200 asthe result of optometry. Prescription data input to the optometristterminal 200 is transmitted to the selling server 700 for a glassesprescription through the communication line.

As the optometrist terminal 200, a movable radio station, such as anotebook PC, which is connectable to the communication line usingwireless communication, may be applied. The optometrist terminal 200transmits prescription data input by the optometrist to the sellingserver 700 through a wireless communication line. Alternatively, theoptometrist, such as an ophthalmologist, may visit a customer byautomobile or the like, and may transmit prescription data from anin-vehicle antenna. While this optometry should be performed by theoptometrist with specialized knowledge relating to the glasses and thelike, for example, the optometrist can visit an area where there is noglasses shop with the movable optometrist terminal 200 and can performoptometry of a customer who resides in the area, and the optometristterminal 200 can receive input of prescription data and can transmitprescription data to the selling server 700. Accordingly, it is possibleto provide appropriate glasses for a customer who resides in an areawhere there are no glasses shops.

The lens company terminal 300 is a computer device of a lens companywhich designs, manufactures, and processes a lens for glasses. As thelens company terminal 300, a similar PC as the customer terminal 100, orthe like may be applied. The lens company designs, manufactures, andprocesses a lens on the basis of prescription data transmitted from theselling server 700 to the lens company terminal 300, or the like. Lensdesign refers to design of the shape of a lens on the basis ofprescription data. Lens processing refers to processing of a lens on thebasis of lens design. Lens design and lens processing may be performedby the same company, or may be performed by different companies. Thelens company may manufacture and process a lens on the basis of designdata of the lens transmitted from the selling server 700 to the lenscompany terminal 300.

The frame company terminal 400 is a computer device of a frame companywhich designs, manufactures, and processes a frame for glasses. As theframe company terminal 400, a similar PC as the customer terminal 100,or the like may be applied. The frame company manufactures and processesa frame on the basis of module selection information, prescription data,or the like transmitted from the selling server 700 to the frame companyterminal 400.

The assembly company terminal 500 is a computer device of an assemblycompany which inserts a lens manufactured and processed by the lenscompany into a frame manufactured and processed by the frame company toassemble the glasses. If a lens and a frame arrive, the assembly companymeasures the frame shape using a frame tracer. The lens is processed onthe basis of the measured frame shape using a lens edger. If the lens isplaced in the frame and the glasses are assembled, the assembly companydelivers the glasses to the customer. The assembly company delivers theglasses to the customer as a delivery destination on the basis of thedelivery destination of the glasses transmitted from the selling server700 to the assembly company terminal 500. As the assembly companyterminal 500, a similar PC as the customer terminal 100, or the like maybe applied.

The contact lens company terminal 600 is a computer device of a contactlens company which designs, manufactures, and processes a contact lensbased on prescription data. The contact lens company manufactures andprocesses a contact lens on the basis of prescription data transmittedfrom the selling server 700 to the selling server 700, informationrepresenting the delivery destination of the contact lens to thecustomer, or the like, and delivers an appropriate contact lens to thecustomer.

The selling server 700 is a computer device which performs communicationwith a plurality of computer devices connected thereto through thecommunication line and controls glasses selling to the customer. Theselling server 700 has a function of a web browser, and provides aglasses fitting screen on which the customer virtually wears theglasses. The selling server 700 provides a web service in which acombined image of the face image of the customer and the image of theglasses can be generated in accordance with access from the customerterminal 100 and transmitted to the customer terminal 100, and thecustomer can virtually wear the glasses and can confirm the wearingstate of the glasses. If a request to purchase the glasses virtuallyfitted to the customer is received from the customer terminal 100, theselling server 700 performs information communication with the lenscompany terminal 300, the frame company terminal 400, or the like, anddelivers the glasses processed for the customer to the customer.

The selling server 700 includes a prescription data receiving unit 701,a prescription data storage unit 702, a service fee informationtransmission unit 703, a frame information storage unit 704, a lensinformation storage unit 705, a lens/frame extraction unit 706, a frameimage transmission unit 707, a lens image transmission unit 708, alens/frame selection information receiving unit 709, a face imagereceiving unit 710, a face image storage unit 711, a face shapecalculation unit 712, a combined image generation unit 713, a combinedimage transmission unit 714, a purchase request receiving unit 715, amodule selection information receiving unit 716, a purchased frameinformation transmission unit 717, a purchase condition receiving unit718, a customer information storage unit 719, an advertisementinformation storage unit 720, an advertisement information transmissionunit 721, a recommendation information transmission unit 722, aprescription data transmission unit 723, a design data storage unit 724,a design data transmission unit 725, and a delivery destinationtransmission unit 726.

The prescription data receiving unit 701 receives prescription data asthe optometry result on the customer by the optometrist from theoptometrist terminal 200.

The prescription data storage unit 702 stores prescription data of thecustomer transmitted from the optometrist terminal 200 in associationwith customer identification information (user ID or the like) foridentifying the customer. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data example ofprescription data which is stored in the prescription data storage unit702.

The service fee information transmission unit 703 transmitspredetermined service fee information to the optometrist terminal 200 inaccordance with prescription data transmitted from the optometristterminal 200 to the selling server 700. In this way, as a rebate whenthe optometrist performs optometry of the customer and inputsprescription data to the optometrist terminal 200 to transmitprescription data to the selling server 700, an administrator of theselling server 700 pays money or the like to the optometrist.Accordingly, an incentive when the optometrist performs optometry of thecustomer is secured. The payment may be made by cash transfer,electronic money, or the like.

The frame information storage unit 704 stores image data of a framecandidate group of glasses to be sold to the customer. For example, theframe information storage unit 704 stores image data of various types offrames according to the frame's materials, shape, color, price, and thelike in association with frame identification information foridentifying the frames. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of aframe material which is stored in the frame information storage unit704. Examples of the frame material include celluloid, metal, two-point(rimless), Nylor (groove excavation), combination (blow, combination),and the like. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a frame shapewhich is stored in the frame information storage unit 704. Examples ofthe frame shape include a Boston type, a Wellington type, an oval type,a round type (Lloyd type), a fox shape, and the like. The frameinformation storage unit 704 may store images of a plurality of articlesfor each portion (module), such as a front, a temple, or a bridge, whichconstitutes a frame. In this case, information, such as materials andfee, may be stored in terms of the modules. The period required untilthe frame is assembled, or the like may be stored in terms of thecombinations of the modules. In this way, a plurality of kinds of imagedata for the respective modules stored in the frame information storageunit 704 can be transmitted to the customer terminal 100, the selectionof a favorite article for each module can be received, and a frame usingthe selected module can be sold.

The lens information storage unit 705 stores image data of a lenscandidate group of glasses to be sold to the customer. For example, thelens information storage unit 705 stores a plurality of kinds of lensesaccording to the lenses' materials, surface treatment, color, depth ofthe color, weight, and price, and the like in association with lensidentification information for identifying the lenses. The lenses whichare stored in the lens information storage unit 705 include coloredlenses. Examples of the colored lenses include a lens with low colordensity which is used in daily life for fashion, anti-glare effect, orthe like, a lens with high color depth which is used for protection fromlight at a place where the sun is strong, and the like.

The lens/frame extraction unit 706 reads image data of a frame to betransmitted to the customer terminal 100 in the frame candidate groupstored in the frame information storage unit 704 and image data of alens to be transmitted to the customer terminal 100 in the lenscandidate group stored in the lens information storage unit 705. Thelens/frame extraction unit 706 extracts a lens or a frame to bepresented to the customer on the basis of, for example, attributeinformation or purchase history of the customer stored in the customerinformation storage unit 719 in advance, the purchase conditionsreceived by the purchase condition receiving unit 718 from the customerterminal 100, and the like.

For example, the lens/frame extraction unit 706 reads, from the frameinformation storage unit 704 or the lens information storage unit 705, alens or a frame according to the purchase conditions received by thepurchase condition receiving unit 718 from the customer terminal 100.The purchase conditions include, for example, the time limit up to thedelivery of the glasses, price, and the like. The frame informationstorage unit 704 or the lens information storage unit 705 stores theperiod from order placement to processing completion, price, and thelike in an associated manner, and the lens/frame extraction unit 706extracts a lens or a frame satisfying the purchase conditions from theframe information storage unit 704 or the lens information storage unit705 with reference to the information.

Alternatively, the lens/frame extraction unit 706 may extract a lens ora frame to be recommended to the user in accordance with, for example,the purchase history of the customer stored in the customer informationstorage unit 719. For example, a category according to the type of frameor lens is stored in the frame information storage unit 704 or the lensinformation storage unit 705 in advance, and a popular frame or lens (aframe or a lens which is frequently purchased by other customers) may beextracted from among frames or a lenses in the same category as theframe or the lens purchased by the customer. A frame or a lens of thesame color or in the same price range as the frame or the lens purchasedby the customer may be extracted.

The frame image transmission unit 707 transmits image data of the framecandidate group of the glasses stored in the frame information storageunit 704 and read by the lens/frame extraction unit 706 to the customerterminal 100. When image data for each module is extracted by thelens/frame extraction unit 706, the frame image transmission unit 707transmits image data for each module to the customer terminal 100.

The lens image transmission unit 708 transmits image data of the lenscandidate group stored in the lens information storage unit 705 and readby the lens/frame extraction unit 706 to the customer terminal 100.

The lens/frame selection information receiving unit 709 receives, fromthe customer terminal 100, identification information for identifyingthe lens or frame selected by the customer terminal 100 from among imagedata transmitted from the frame image transmission unit 707 or the lensimage transmission unit 708 to the customer terminal 100.

The face image receiving unit 710 receives the face image of thecustomer transmitted from the customer terminal 100. It is assumed thatthe face image received by the face image receiving unit 710 is, forexample, a motion image. The face image receiving unit 710 receives amotion image in which the direction, expression, or the like of the faceof the customer is possible to change with time.

The face image storage unit 711 stores the face image of the customerreceived by the face image receiving unit 710.

The face shape calculation unit 712 calculates face shape informationnecessary for manufacturing the glasses from the face image stored inthe face image storage unit 711 on the basis of the inter-pupil distanceof prescription data stored in the prescription data storage unit 702.For example, the face shape calculation unit 712 calculates thepositions of the eyes or the positions of the ears through facerecognition processing on the image. For example, the distancerepresented by reference numeral al of FIG. 3(a) corresponds to theinter-pupil distance stored in the prescription data storage unit 702.Accordingly, the shape of the face can be calculated on the basis of thelength of reference numeral al in the image. For example, as shown inFIG. 3(b), when the customer turns his/her face sideways, as representedby reference numeral al′, the inter-pupil distance becomes shorter thanthe length of a1 in FIG. 3(a). Hence, the glasses frame is combined withthe face image, and the length of the temple represented by referencenumeral b1 when a person wears the glasses is calculated on the basis ofchange in the length, using, for example, a ray-tracing technique in thethree-dimensional computer graphics. The face shape informationincludes, for example, pupil height, pad width, pad height, pad tiltangle, front width, front tilt angle, armor height, armor apertureangle, temple length, bending angle, eye-point position, pad interval,pad depth, ear cover bending angle, and the like. In this way, the faceshape calculation unit 712 calculates the face shape informationnecessary for manufacturing the glasses.

The combined image generation unit 713 generates a combined image of theframe image selected by the customer, the lens image selected by thecustomer, and the face image of the customer. For example, the combinedimage generation unit 713 combines a face image shown in FIG. 4(a) and aframe image shown in FIG. 4(b) using the technique in thethree-dimensional computer graphics to generate a combined image shownin FIG. 4(c) in which the frame is worn on the face of a person. Thecombined image generation unit 713 may superimpose a frame image infront view at a coordinate position set in advance on the screen of aface image to generate a combined image, or may calculate the coordinatepositions of the eyes on a face image calculated through facerecognition processing and may generate a combined image such that botheyes fall within the front frame of the frame. The combined imagegeneration unit 713 may adjust the position of the frame for the faceimage in accordance with an operation input to the customer terminal100. The combined image generation unit 713 generates a high-definitionand high-quality image such that the texture of the frame or lens iseasily confirmed.

The combined image generation unit 713 generates a combined image so asto follow the motion of the face image based on a motion image capturedby and transmitted from the imaging unit 110 of the customer terminal100. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a) or 5(b), when the customer whofaces the front turns his/her face sideways, a combined image isgenerated such that the glasses are at the positions of the eyes inaccordance with the direction of the face. Similarly, as shown in FIG.5(c) or 5(d), when the customer turns his/her face up and down, acombined image is generated such that the glasses are at the positionsof the eyes in accordance with the direction of the face. At this time,the combined image generation unit 713 may generate combined images at afixed time interval, such as one-tenth second, or may generate acombined image when the motion of the face image is detected.

In a case that the combined image generation unit 713 generates acombined image, when a colored lens is selected by the customer terminal100, a combined image in which color according to the selected coloredlens is combined in the lens portion is generated. In this case, forexample, how much the landscape look changed in color in connection withthe selected lens color and depth may be simulated and displayed on thescreen. This simulation compares and displays the landscape viewed witha colorless glasses and the landscape viewed with a colored glasses(parameters of color and depth), and compares and displays the lensportion of the combined image while changing the color. The customer canselect the color and depth while confirming the landscape viewed by thecustomer and the customer's face viewed by other people from the colorand the depth. An image generated by the combined image generation unit713 may be displayed while enlarging a specific part in accordance withan operation input to the customer terminal 100, or may be rotated anddisplayed. The combined image generation unit 713 generates an imagerepresenting the thickness of the lens side surface in a state where thelens is placed in the glasses frame selected by the customer terminal100. For example, the combined image generation unit 713 may generate animage by calculating the thickness of the lens side surface on the basisof design data of the lens transmitted from the lens company terminal,or may generate an image on the basis of the thickness of the lens sidesurface stored in the selling server. The combined image generation unit713 may record the motion image of the generated combined image inaccordance with a request from the customer terminal 100 and mayreproduce the recorded motion image at an arbitrary point of time.Accordingly, even an image, in which the customer turns his/her facesideways, from among the images of the customer allows the customer tomake confirmation.

The combined image transmission unit 714 transmits the combined imagegenerated by the combined image generation unit 713 to the customerterminal 100.

The purchase request receiving unit 715 receives information relating toa frame and a lens purchased by the customer and determined by thecustomer on the basis of the combined image transmitted from thecombined image transmission unit 714 to the customer terminal 100. Thepurchase request receiving unit 715 receives the frame identificationinformation for identifying the frame purchased by the customer and thelens identification information for identifying the lens from thecustomer terminal 100. When selling a contact lens, the purchase requestreceiving unit 715 may receive a request to purchase a contact lenstransmitted from the customer terminal 100.

The module selection information receiving unit 716 receives moduleselection information representing a combination of modules selected bythe customer using the customer terminal 100 to purchase in accordancewith the frame image for each module transmitted from the frame imagetransmission unit 707. The module selection information receiving unit716 receives identification information for each module.

The purchased frame information transmission unit 717 transmitsinformation relating to the frame which the customer selected topurchase to the frame company terminal 400. For example, the purchasedframe information transmission unit 717 transmits the frameidentification information received by the purchase request receivingunit 715 or the module selection information received by the moduleselection information receiving unit 716 to the frame company terminal400.

The purchase condition receiving unit 718 receives purchase conditioninformation including at least one of the time limit up to the deliveryof the glasses and price from the customer terminal 100. The customerinputs the purchase condition information to the customer terminal 100,and the customer terminal 100 transmits the input purchase conditioninformation to the selling server 700. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing anexample of a price selection screen which is displayed on the customerterminal 100. Prices of the glasses, such as, for example, lower than10,000 yen (to 10,000 yen), 10,000 yen level (10,000 yen to 20,000 yen),20,000 yen level (20,000 yen to 30,000 yen), 30,000 yen level (30,000yen to 40,000 yen), equal to or higher than 40,000 yen (40,000 yen to),can be input. As the time limit up to the delivery of the glasses, forexample, an arbitrary time limit ranging from the same day (one day) toone month can be input.

The customer information storage unit 719 stores personal dataassociated with information relating to the customer for customeridentification information to identify the customer. Personal dataincludes attribute information, such as the name, date of birth(birthday), address, sex, mail address, designated date (the datedesignated by the customer, anniversary, date of birth, or the like) ofthe customer. Usage registration is received from the customer terminal100 to the glasses selling system 1 in advance, and the attributeinformation is input from the customer to the customer terminal 100 atthe time of usage registration, and transmitted to and stored in theselling server 700. At this time, the selling server 700 generatescustomer identification information to identify the customer, and thecustomer identification information is stored in the customerinformation storage unit 719 in association with information transmittedfrom the customer terminal 100.

Personal data includes information representing the delivery destinationof the glasses manufactured and processed in accordance with a purchaserequest from the customer. The delivery destination may be the addressof the customer. Personal data also includes a purchase historyrepresenting the purchase request transmitted from the customer terminal100. The purchase history includes, for example, the date on which thecustomer purchases the glasses, identification information of the lensor the frame, prescription data, and the like. A password according tothe customer identification information may be registered, and theselling server 700 may perform a process to log in to the selling server700 with the customer identification information (user ID or the like)and the password. Personal data stored in the customer informationstorage unit 719 may store credit card information or the like which isused when the customer pays for the purchased glasses.

The advertisement information storage unit 720 stores advertisementinformation relating to the frame stored in the frame informationstorage unit 704, the lens stored in the lens information storage unit705, or the like. The advertisement information is, for example,character information, image information, or the like. The advertisementinformation may include, for example, information relating to a discountof glasses selling.

The advertisement information transmission unit 721 reads theadvertisement information stored in the advertisement informationstorage unit 720 and transmits the advertisement information to thecustomer terminal 100. For example, the advertisement informationtransmission unit 721 reads information representing the designated date(for example, the date of birth) in a plurality of kinds of customerinformation stored in the customer information storage unit 719, andcompares the read designated date (month and day) with the current monthand day obtained using an internal timer function. If it is determinedthat the read date of birth matches the current month and day, theadvertisement information transmission unit 721 transmits theadvertisement information stored in the advertisement informationstorage unit 720 to the customer terminal 100. When it is determinedthat the date before a predetermined period from the designated date(for example, the date before one month from the date of birth) matchesthe current month and day, the advertisement information transmissionunit 721 may transmit the advertisement information stored in theadvertisement information storage unit 720 to the customer terminal 100.

The recommendation information transmission unit 722 transmits theinformation of the frame or the lens extracted by the lens/frameextraction unit 706 in accordance with the purchase history in personaldata stored in the customer information storage unit 719 to the customerterminal 100.

The prescription data transmission unit 723 transmits prescription dataof the customer stored in the prescription data storage unit 702 to thelens company terminal 300 of the lens company which manufactures thelens purchased by the customer or the frame company terminal 400 of theframe company which manufactures the frame purchased by the customer.When a request to purchase a contact lens is transmitted from thecustomer terminal 100, the prescription data transmission unit 723transmits prescription data of the customer stored in the prescriptiondata storage unit 702 to the contact lens company terminal 600.

The design data storage unit 724 stores design data of the lensaccording to prescription data in advance. Design data is, for example,information in which the shape of the lens surface according toprescription data is represented by the coordinates in thethree-dimensional space. The design data storage unit 724 stores, forexample, design data for each of materials, coating, coloring or design,such as spherical design or aspheric design, in accordance with myopicpower, hyperopic power, astigmatic power, or the like.

The design data transmission unit 725 reads design data of the lensaccording to prescription data of the customer in accordance withinformation relating to the lens received by the purchase conditionreceiving unit 718, and transmits design data to the lens companyterminal 300.

The delivery destination transmission unit 726 transmits the deliverydestination corresponding to the customer to the assembly companyterminal 500 of the assembly company which assembles the frames and thelens purchased by the customer. The delivery destination transmissionunit 726 reads the delivery destination corresponding to the customerwho purchases the glasses from personal data stored in the customerinformation storage unit 719, and transmits the delivery destination tothe assembly company terminal 500. The assembly company delivers theassembled glasses with the delivery destination transmitted from thedelivery destination transmission unit 726 as a destination.

Next, an operation example of the glasses selling system 1 of thisembodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing anoperation example where glasses are sold by the glasses selling system 1using information communication through the communication line.

For example, the customer terminal 100 accesses the selling server 700in advance in accordance with an operation input from the customer, andtransmits personal data, such as the name or the address, to the sellingserver 700. The selling server 700 generates customer identificationinformation (user ID or the like) for identifying the customer, andstores the customer identification information in the customerinformation storage unit 719 in association with personal datatransmitted from the customer terminal 100. The selling server 700transmits the generated customer identification information to thecustomer terminal 100.

After optometry of the customer is performed, the optometrist inputsprescription data based on the optometry result to the optometristterminal 200. The optometrist terminal 200 receives prescription datainput by the optometrist (Step S1). At this time, for example, theoptometrist hears from the customer customer identification informationgiven to the customer in advance, and inputs the customer identificationinformation to the optometrist terminal 200. The optometrist terminal200 transmits input prescription data to the selling server 700 inassociation with the customer identification information (Step S2). Ifprescription data and the customer identification informationtransmitted from the optometrist terminal 200 are received, theprescription data receiving unit 701 of the selling server 700 storesprescription data and the customer identification information in theprescription data storage unit 702 (Step S3).

The customer terminal 100 accesses the selling server 700 in accordancewith an operation input from the customer, and for example, transmitsthe user ID and the password given in advance to log in to the webservice which is provided by the selling server 700. The selling server700 transmits the glasses fitting screen to the customer terminal 100.The imaging unit 110 of the customer terminal 100 starts to capture theface image of the customer (Step S4). The customer terminal 100transmits the face image captured by the imaging unit 110 to the sellingserver 700 (Step S5). An image which is captured by the imaging unit 110and transmitted to the selling server 700 is, for example, a motionimage, and hereinafter, the customer terminal 100 continues to transmitthe face image of the customer captured by the imaging unit 110.

The lens/frame extraction unit 706 of the selling server 700 extracts aframe image for each type of frame shape from the frame candidate groupstored in the frame information storage unit 704 and transmits the frameimage to the customer terminal 100 (Step S6). The lens/frame extractionunit 706 extracts the lens image for each type of lens image for eachtype of lens material from the lens candidate group stored in the lensinformation storage unit 705 and transmits the lens image to thecustomer terminal 100 (Step S7). The customer terminal 100 displays aplurality of frame images and lens images transmitted from the sellingserver 700 on the display unit. For example, the customer terminal 100may display a plurality of frame images or lens images on one screen, ormay sequentially display one frame image or lens image on one screen.The customer selects a frame and a lens for the customer's preferencefrom the frame images and the lens images displayed on the display unitof the customer terminal 100. If the input of information representingthe frame and the lens selected by the customer is received, thecustomer terminal 100 transmits frame identification information foridentifying the selected frame and lens identification information foridentifying the selected lens to the selling server 700 (Step S8). Thelens/frame selection information receiving unit 709 of the sellingserver 700 receives the lens identification information and the frameidentification information transmitted from the customer terminal 100.

The face image receiving unit 710 of the selling server 700 receives theface image which starts to be transmitted in Step S5, and stores theface image in the face image storage unit 711. The face shapecalculation unit 712 calculates face shape information on the basis ofthe face image stored in the face image storage unit 711 (Step S9). Thecombined image generation unit 713 reads the lens according to the lensidentification information received by the lens/frame selectioninformation receiving unit 709 from the lens information storage unit705. The combined image generation unit 713 reads the frame according tothe frame identification information received by the lens/frameselection information receiving unit 709 from the frame informationstorage unit 704.

The combined image generation unit 713 generates a combined image on thebasis of the face image stored in the face image storage unit 711, theface shape information calculated by the face shape calculation unit712, the frame image read from the frame information storage unit 704,and the lens image read from the lens information storage unit 705 (StepS10). The combined image transmission unit 714 of the selling server 700transmits the combined image generated by the combined image generationunit 713 to the customer terminal 100 (Step S11). If the combined imagetransmitted from the selling server 700 is received, the customerterminal 100 displays the combined image on the display unit. Thecustomer views the combined image displayed on the display unit toconfirm the wearing state when the customer fits the glasses on. In thiscase, the combined image is generated by the selling server 700 in realtime on the basis of the face image captured by the imaging unit 110 andtransmitted to the selling server 700, and transmitted to and displayedon the customer terminal 100. When the customer wants to view a combinedimage in which another lens and frame are fitted, the customer reselectsa frame and a lens, and inputs the frame and the lens to the customerterminal 100. The customer terminal 100 transmits identificationinformation of the selected frame and identification information of thelens to the selling server 700, and the processing of Steps S8 to S11 isrepeated, such that the customer can view combined images in which aplurality of frames and images are fitted.

If the customer selects a frame and a lens which the customer wants topurchase, the customer inputs information representing a purchaseintention to the customer terminal 100. If the input of the frame andthe lens which are input from the customer is received (Step S12), thecustomer terminal 100 transmits a request to purchase the input frameand lens to the selling server 700 (Step S13). If the purchase requestreceiving unit 715 of the selling server 700 receives the purchaserequest transmitted from the customer terminal 100, the prescriptiondata transmission unit 723 reads prescription data stored in theprescription data storage unit 702, and transmits prescription data tothe lens company terminal 300. The design data transmission unit 725reads design data according to prescription data stored in theprescription data storage unit 702 from the design data storage unit724, and transmits the design data to the lens company terminal 300(Step S14). Design data includes the lens identification informationselected by the customer terminal 100. The lens company may createdesign data of the lens on the basis of prescription data or the liketransmitted from the selling server 700 to the lens company terminal300. The purchased frame information transmission unit 717 transmits theframe identification information and prescription data included in thepurchase request received by the purchase request receiving unit 715 tothe frame company terminal 400 (Step S15). The selling server 700transmits the delivery destination of the glasses to the frame companyterminal 400 (Step S16).

If the lens is manufactured and processed by the lens company on thebasis of prescription data and design data received by the lens companyterminal 300, the processed lens is delivered to the assembly companyterminal 500. If the frame is manufactured and processed by the framecompany on the basis of prescription data and the frame identificationinformation received by the frame company terminal 400, the processedframe is delivered to the assembly company. The frame company maydeliver the stock of the frame corresponding to the frame identificationinformation received by the frame company terminal 400 to the assemblycompany. If the lens delivered from the lens company and the framedelivered from the frame company are processed and assembled, in StepS16, the assembly company delivers the assembled glasses to the deliverydestination of the glasses received by the assembly company terminal500.

As described above, according to this embodiment, all the stepsnecessary for purchasing the glasses including the input of prescriptiondata by the optometrist, the selection of the frame and the lens by thecustomer, the processing of the lens by the lens company according toprescription data based on the optometry result, and the delivery of theassembled glasses to the customer can be performed through the network.Accordingly, the customer can more easily purchase appropriate glassesaccording to the optometry result of the customer through the networkwithout visiting the glasses shop. For this reason, for example, evenwhen the customer resides in an area where there is no glasses shop, thecustomer can purchase the glasses, and the glasses seller can sell theglasses. Since an actual glasses shop is not required, costs of actualshop operation for glasses selling can be reduced, and efficientdistribution can be made. In this way, according to this embodiment, itbecomes possible to easily sell appropriate glasses to customers in awider area with lower cost.

Although in this embodiment, a case where the optometrist terminal 200is a movable radio station has been described, for example, theoptometrist may visit an area where there is no glasses shop, mayperform optometry of a customer, and may store prescription data in aportable storage medium, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory ora CD (compact disc), through the optometrist terminal 200, and theselling server 700 or the customer terminal 100 may read prescriptiondata from the portable medium.

Although in this embodiment, the selling server 700 has a function ofcombining the face image, the frame image, and the lens image togenerate the combined image and transmitting the combined image to thecustomer terminal 100, the function of generating the combined image maybe provided in the customer terminal 100. In this case, for example, ananimation program which can execute a script may be transmitted from theselling server 700 to the customer terminal 100, and the customerterminal 100 may perform processing for generating the combined image onthe basis of the downloaded program.

Although in this embodiment, the combined image in which the lens image,the frame image, and the face image are combined is generated, acombined image in which only the lens image and the frame image arecombined may be generated and transmitted to the customer terminal 100.A combined image in which only the frame image and the face image arecombined may be generated and transmitted to the customer terminal 100.

The customer information storage unit 719 may store a point or the likeaccording to the purchase history or the like of each customer, and adiscount system using the point may be introduced.

When a new article is stored in the frame information storage unit 704or the lens information storage unit 705, latest information may betransmitted to the customer terminal 100 by mail or the like.

The glasses which look good in accordance with the shape of the face inthe face image may be recommended on the basis of statistics orinformation set in advance. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of aface shape selection screen which is displayed on the customer terminal100. As the face shape, for example, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle,a diamond, a home base, or the like can be input.

The administrator of the glasses selling system 1 may cooperate with theophthalmologist or the like, and the ophthalmologist may introduce theweb service provided by the selling server 700.

In order to determine the performance of an anti-reflection film on thelens, the reflection states of different kinds of lenses may bedisplayed as images and transmitted to the customer terminal 100, forcustomer confirmation. For example, how reflection by the lens changesmay be simulated in connection with the type of selected lens anddisplayed on the screen. The customer can select the lens taking intoconsideration the performance of the anti-reflection film whileconfirming the reflected color of the lens, the landscape viewed by thecustomer, the customer's face viewed by other people, and the like fromthe type of lens.

In order to prevent leakage of individual information, the face imagetransmitted from the customer terminal 100 to the selling server 700 maybe deleted from the storage unit in the selling server 700 whendisconnected from the customer terminal 100.

A frame image of an original frame may be created using a drafting toolor the like, and the created frame image may be transmitted to the framecompany terminal 400 for manufacturing and processing.

Although in this embodiment, an example where the lens company and theassembly company are different companies has been described, the lenscompany may perform the steps including edging or V-shape machining onthe basis of frame shape measurement data. For example, the framecompany may measure the frame shape using a frame tracer, and maytransmit information necessary for lens processing to the lens company.The lens company may process the lens using a lens edger on the basis ofinformation transmitted from the frame company. In this case, theassembly company does not process the lens and places the lens in theframe.

The lens company, the frame company, the assembly company, and thecontact lens company may be different companies, and two or more ofthese companies may be the same company.

The administrator of the selling server may be different from the lenscompany, the frame company, the assembly company, and the contact lenscompany, or may be the same as any thereof.

The fitting adjustment of the assembled glasses on the ears or the noseof the customer may be performed with the application of a frame whichcan be adjusted by the customer.

An article other than the glasses may be recommended using informationrepresenting the lifestyle from personal data stored in the customerinformation storage unit 719. For example, information relating toautomobiles may be provided to a customer who is fond of automobiles.

A person to whom the customer wants to give a present may be registeredin the selling server 700, and a present may be given through theselling server 700.

Although in this embodiment, the lens and the frame to be purchased areselected by the customer on the basis of the combined image, the lensand the frame to be purchased may be selected on the basis of the lensimage and the frame image without generating the combined image.

Although in this embodiment, the customer acquires the customeridentification information in advance before optometry, the customeridentification information may be acquired at the time of optometry. Forexample, the optometrist terminal 200 may access the selling server 700in accordance with an operation input from the optometrist, and mayacquire customer identification information (user ID or the like)generated by the selling server 700. In this case, the customer may hearthe customer identification information acquired by the optometristterminal 200 from the optometrist.

Design data of the lens may include information representing which of aplurality of semi-materials is used, in addition to the surface shapefor processing the semi-material (semi-finished article). If necessary,design data of the lens may include lens shape information, such as thecentral thickness of the lens, the edge thickness, and the outerdiameter, or lens power information for a test of lens refractive powerusing a lens power measurement device or the like as data for qualityconfirmation of the processed lens.

Design data of the lens may include surface shape data of the frontsurface from among the two surfaces of the lens, may include surfaceshape data of the rear surface, or may include surface shape data of thefront and the rear surfaces. Surface shape data may be constituted by apoint group (the set of the values of the spatial coordinates (xcoordinate, y coordinate, z coordinate) at respective points on theprocessing surface of the semi-material), may be data obtained bysurface-interpolating surface shape data constituted by a point group,or may be data obtained by converting surface-interpolated data to an NCprocessing program.

The type of processed lens is not limited, and the foregoing embodimentmay be applied to a fixed focal lens, a progressive power lens, aprogressive lens for middle/near vision, a progressive lens fornear/near vision, and the like.

A program for realizing the function of the processing unit according tothe invention may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium,the program recorded in the recording medium may be read into andexecuted on a computer system to perform glasses selling. It is assumedthat the term “computer system” used herein includes an OS or hardware,such as peripherals. It is also assumed that the term “computer system”includes a WWW system which includes a homepage provision environment(or a display environment). The term “computer-readable recordingmedium” refers to a portable medium, such as a flexible disk, amagneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, or a storage device, such as ahard disk embedded in the computer system. It is also assumed that theterm “computer-readable recording medium” includes a medium which holdsa program for a given time, such as a volatile memory (RAM) in thecomputer system which becomes a server or a client when a program istransmitted through a network, such as Internet, or a communicationline, such as a telephone line.

The program may be transmitted from the computer system, which storesthe program in the storage device or the like, to other computer systemsthrough a transmission medium or through transmission waves in thetransmission medium. The term “transmission medium” which transmits theprogram refers to a medium which has a function of transmittinginformation, for example, a network (communication network), such asInternet, or a communication line, such as a telephone line. The programmay be a program which can realize part of the above-describedfunctions. The program may be a so-called differential file(differential program) which can realize the above-described functionsby a combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

As described above, the selling server stores prescription data of acustomer transmitted from the optometrist terminal of the optometristperforming optometry for a glasses prescription through thecommunication line in association with customer identificationinformation, transmits image data of a frame candidate group of theglasses to the customer terminal, transmits image data of a lenscandidate group of the glasses to the customer terminal, generates acombined image of a frame image selected by the customer, a lens imageselected by the customer, and a face image of the customer, receivesinformation relating to a frame and a lens purchased by the customer anddetermined on the basis of the combined image, and transmitsprescription data of the customer to the lens company terminal of thelens company which processes the lens purchased by the customer. Forthis reason, it becomes possible to provide a glasses selling systemwhich more easily sells more appropriate glasses to a purchaser inaccordance with the optometry result of the purchaser.

What is claimed is:
 1. A glasses selling system comprising: a sellingserver which is connected to a customer terminal of a customer whopurchases glasses through a communication line, wherein the sellingserver is connected to an optometrist terminal of an optometrist whoperforms optometry for a glasses prescription through the communicationline, and the selling server includes a prescription data storage unitwhich stores prescription data of the customer transmitted from theoptometrist terminal in association with customer identificationinformation for identifying the customer, a frame image transmissionunit which transmits image data of a frame candidate group of theglasses to the customer terminal, a lens image transmission unit whichtransmits image data of a lens candidate group of the glasses to thecustomer terminal, a recommendation information transmission unit whichtransmits information of glasses recommended for the customer inaccordance with a shape of a face of the customer, a purchase requestreceiving unit which receives information relating to a frame and a lenspurchased by the customer, and a prescription data transmission unitwhich transmits the prescription data of the customer to a lens companyterminal of a lens company manufacturing the lens purchased by thecustomer.
 2. The glasses selling system according to claim 1, whereinthe selling server or the optometrist terminal includes a combined imagegeneration unit which generates a combined image of a frame image, alens image, and a face image of the customer.
 3. The glasses sellingsystem according to claim 2, wherein the prescription data includesinformation of an inter-pupil distance, and the glasses selling systemincludes a face shape information calculation unit which calculates faceshape information of the customer from the face image on the basis ofthe inter-pupil distance.
 4. The glasses selling system according toclaim 1, wherein the optometrist terminal is a movable radio station,and transmits the prescription data to the selling server using wirelesscommunication.
 5. The glasses selling system according to claim 2,wherein the customer terminal includes an imaging unit which capturesthe face image of the customer, and the combined image generation unitgenerates the combined image so as to follow a motion of the face imagecaptured by the imaging unit.
 6. The glasses selling system according toclaim 1, wherein the selling server includes a frame information storageunit which stores image data of each of a plurality of modules of theframe, and the frame image transmission unit transmits image data ofeach of the modules to the customer terminal.
 7. The glasses sellingsystem according to claim 6, wherein the selling server includes amodule selection information receiving unit which receives moduleselection information relating to a combination of the modules selectedby the customer, and a module selection information transmission unitwhich transmits the module selection information to a frame companyterminal of a frame company manufacturing the frame purchased by thecustomer.
 8. The glasses selling system according to claim 1, whereinthe selling server includes a purchase condition receiving unit whichreceives purchase condition information including a time limit up to adelivery of the glasses or price, and a lens/frame extraction unit whichextracts a frame or a lens satisfying the purchase condition.
 9. Theglasses selling system according to claim 1, wherein the selling serverincludes a customer information storage unit which stores personal dataincluding information representing a designated date of the customer,and an advertisement information transmission unit which transmitspredetermined advertisement information to the customer terminal of thecustomer corresponding to the designated date on the designated date orbefore the designated date.
 10. The glasses selling system according toclaim 1, wherein the selling server includes a service fee informationtransmission unit which transmits predetermined service fee informationto the optometrist terminal in accordance with the prescription datatransmitted from the optometrist terminal.
 11. The glasses sellingsystem according to claim 1, wherein the selling server includes adesign data storage unit which stores design data of the lens based onthe prescription data in advance, and a design data transmission unitwhich transmits design data of the lens based on prescription data ofthe customer to the lens company terminal in accordance with informationrelating to the lens received by the purchase request receiving unit.12. The glasses selling system according to claim 2, wherein thecombined image generation unit generates the combined image in which acolored lens selected by the customer terminal is combined.
 13. Theglasses selling system according to claim 2, wherein the combined imagegeneration unit generates an image representing the thickness of a lensside surface in a state where a lens is fitted into a glasses frameselected by the customer terminal.
 14. The glasses selling systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the prescription data includes at leastone information of myopic power, hyperopic power, astigmatic power, anastigmatic axis angle, and an inter-pupil distance.
 15. The glassesselling system according to claim 1, wherein the selling server includesa customer information storage unit which stores personal data includinginformation representing a delivery destination of the glasses to thecustomer, and a delivery destination transmission unit which transmitsthe delivery destination corresponding to the customer to an assemblycompany terminal of an assembly company performing processing forfitting the frame and the lens purchased by the customer.